For the eighth year in a row, Fox was the most popular cable network in basic cable’s primetime and overall day of viewers. Additionally, it was the highest-rated cable news network for a record 21 years.
Fox News drew the most politically varied audience among cable news networks, with more Democrats, Independents, and Republicans turning in than any other network in terms of overall viewers and the younger A25-54 demo, according to statistics from Nielsen/MRI Fusion.
With 53% of the 25–54 demographic throughout the day, Fox News had the second-highest share of the cable news audience in its history. In terms of overall viewers, the network attracted 55% of the primetime audience.
Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News, stated:
“2022, America’s choice on election night, to the birthplace of the late-night phenomenon, “was a monument to our unparalleled ability to provide our audience—which remains the most ideologically diverse in cable news—with the most cutting-edge news and opinion programming.
“I am so proud of all of our team’s amazing accomplishments this year.”
The Five, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle, Gutfeld!, Outnumbered, America’s Newsroom, The Faulkner Focus, Your World with Neil Cavuto, America Reports, and The Story were among the top 13 cable news programs with total viewers, according to Fox News.
Fox also possessed 13 of the highest-rated series in the 18–49 demo and the top 15 shows in A25–54.
The popular Fox News program “The Five” kept setting new benchmarks.
For the first time in television history, the most watched cable program overall at the end of the year was not a primetime show.
With 3,432,000 viewers and 465,000 in the A25-54 demographic, “The Five,” which aired at 5 PM/ET, eclipsed all other daytime and primetime programming on CNN and MSNBC, earning cable news’ highest audience in 2022.
As stated by Fox News:
2022 (12/27/21-12/13/22) Nielsen Cable News Ratings compared to 2021 (12/28/20-12/26/21)
Primetime: 346,000 25-54 (down 7%); FNC: 2,330,000 P2+ (down 1%).
CNN: 174,000 25-54 (down 36%) and 730,000 P2+ (down 33%)
MSNBC: 133,000 25-54 (down 39%) and 1,208,000 P2+ (down 21%)
Overall Day: 231,000 25-54 (up 3%) and 1,489,000 P2+ (up 12%) for FNC.
CNN: 123,000 25-54 (down 35%) and 568,000 P2+ (down 27%)
MSNBC: 83,000 25-54 (down 35%) and 733,000 P2+ (down 19%)
